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Thursday, 15 July 2010

Larkin with Toads

photo Denis Low/Larkin25, used with permission

Larkin with Toads is a 10-week, mass participation public art event taking place in Hull, England starting Saturday 17 July. It is a wonderfully imaginative way to celebrate the work of Philip Larkin, the most famous poet to come out of Hull.

Giant toad sculptures have been designed and painted by artists, community groups and local schools. They form a trail around Hull and its environs to form the largest public art installation ever held in Hull. The toad in the photo above is the Hull Fair Toad designed by Pinkyvision.

Philip Larkin was an animal and countryside lover, with many of his poems touching on these themes, finding beauty in uncelebrated parts of the British countryside, and expressing concern about threats to nature and the landscape. His poems ‘Toads’ and ‘Toads Revisited’ take a darkly comic look at the way in which work and how the daily pressures of life can constrain creativity.

9 comments:

This is awesome! They did this a few years ago in Maine (USA) with Loons. I don't remember the cause but I loved seeing all the creatively painted loons. I have not heard of Larkin that I know of. Now I will have to research him and see if I recognize any of his poems! Thanks for a great post!

We've seen public art installations like this in different places, but just to celebrate whatever the area is famous for (horses in Louisville Kentucky, ducks in Eugene Oregon, cows somewhere in the midwest..).

Those were fun to look at, but there was no tie in to the arts like what you have here. I'll go look up more about Mr Larkin.